Untitled

The people over at GameInstitute.com are retarded (or, they were a couple years ago when I was taking some of their courses.)

1) My Intro to Game Programming instructor told me that you can't use switch() on a char.2) They give you a camera system, no strings attached. IMO that's like giving white powder to a crack addict. You know he's going to snort it without really looking into it. Seriousy, what's the point of even learning how the view matrix works when you've got a camera system that supports free-roam, first, and third-person views?3) Their apps are native 640x480 (800x600 and 1024x768 were pretty standard 2 or 3 years ago.)4) They used the arrow keys and the mouse together. I've never EVER met a left handed computer user which would be the only good reason to use the arrow keys instead of WASD (especially for a FPS camera.)5) They've tripled their prices over the past 2 or 3 years and AFAIK their courses haven't changed very much.

In other news I got my camera system integrated with WM_INPUT and a base object system done. I have the velocity system integrated with the free-roam camera, but I'm thinking of removing it because it can be QUITE annoying, but I think that's because it's implemented wrong (the velocity follows the direction of the camera, so it's more of like a flying object instead of a free-roam camera (for example, if you dive down toward an object and as you pass through it, you pitch up, you'll follow the object's X/Z axis instead of continuing to go down.))

I need to implement the mesh system so that I can attach a camera to an object and setup a third person view.

I have almost $90 saved! Sadly, that's the most I've had in quite a while.

I'm almost finished with my current TLCoM map. Just have to fine tune some things and add some interaction and it'll be all set. But, now it's time for food, a shower, and then bed.

8 Comments

Recommended Comments

4) They used the arrow keys and the mouse together. I've never EVER met a left handed computer user which would be the only good reason to use the arrow keys instead of WASD (especially for a FPS camera.)

There is nothing wrong with that, and it's not even uncommon. Of course, they SHOULD have a means of rebinding keys.

0

Share this comment

Link to comment

4) They used the arrow keys and the mouse together. I've never EVER met a left handed computer user which would be the only good reason to use the arrow keys instead of WASD (especially for a FPS camera.)

There is nothing wrong with that, and it's not even uncommon. Of course, they SHOULD have a means of rebinding keys.

But there is something wrong with it: it's awkward[razz]. Plus I haven't played a FPS that used the arrow keys by default. But yea, key-binding would be nice, but then again, it was in the graphics course, so keybinding would have muddled up the code.

0

Share this comment

Link to comment

Yeah, I took their intro to game programming, about a year ago. I really liked it.

Though, what has sadly kept me away from taking anymore courses are the fact that they hijacked the prices and now the course I would really be interested in taking (DX9 graphics), its over 200 bucks. Bah. :|

But yeah, aside from the minor things, overall I think they have put together a great package. Tons of information all wrapped up nice and perdy.

I'm still considering on taking the DX9 course when I finish paying for this semesters tuition.

Regards,
-Dave

0

Share this comment

Link to comment

Yea, I've been thinking of taking a couple of their new courses, but the only good way to do it would be to take one of the packages and they're still way expensive. Unless you actually get textbooks now (before you had to print them off yourself.)

Share this comment

Link to comment

Original post by Rob LoachYou'd think people would pay for courses that they'd take in real life and not just some hacked course on the internet....

Game Development isn't even at a lot of universities yet. So that means, if I want to take a Game Dev course, I have to go out of state. In state, 130 bucks a credit hour... Out of state, your looking at 400 a credit hour. Online $230 bucks for a class.